A quiet 2009 for natural disasters

It was a relatively quiet year globally for natural disasters in 2009. According to Munich Re insurance company, the death toll from 2009 natural disasters was approximately 10,000, well below the average 75,000 deaths per year seen over the decade of the 2000s. Damage from 2009 natural disasters was about $50 billion, compared to the decadal average of $115 billion, and far below the $200 billion in destruction wrought by 2008's natural disasters. The most costly disaster of 2009 was Winter Storm Klaus, which hit northern Spain and southwest France January 23 - 25, causing $5.1 billion in damage. The deadliest weather-related disaster was Category 2 Typhoon Ketsana, which killed 694 people in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Category 2 Typhoon Morakot was a close second, with 614 fatalities, primarily in Taiwan. The deadliest natural disaster overall was the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that shook the Indonesian island of Sumatra on 30 September, killing nearly 1,200 people.

Figure 1. Cars being swept away by Ketsana's flood waters in a still frame from a dramatic YouTube video captured by medical students at the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.

I'll be back Tuesday with my selection for the top global weather event of 2009: the Horn of Africa drought.

but to add on to this.. I expect forecast to change b/c sum models have moisture leave noon by friday towards me in the fl panhandle.. but later tonight we should have a better reasoning about it.. well g2g ..

A second s/w is forecast to dive south from the central US to the Gulf coast on the backside of this trough this weekend. This could actually bring another round of snow to Houston and for areas along the Gulf Coast, perhaps making it as far north as coastal Georgia or South Carolina. For now this is a very low confidence event, but an active subtropical jet argues more mischief could arise this weekend, and we must keep any eye on things. This is from alan huffman, i respect this guy opinion and all

well not looking good for the gulf coast unless u go up north.. but i say its a tad bit early.. Bob and Pat, what do ya'll think..? u think the models will change even tho we r gettin that artic blast?

Short term (tonight through Thursday night)...large scale pattern remains relatively unchanged today with deep trough over the east and ridge over the west. The pattern continues to be locked in place by the downstream negative nao. Surface high will slide closer to the area tonight with lighter winds expected. This should result in better radiational cooling tonight...although winds are not expected to completely decouple. Temperatures should drop a few degrees lower than last night with upper teens to around 20 degrees being forecast. Temperatures will slowly...repeat slowly...moderate throught Thursday. Maximum temperatures to reach middle and upper 40s Wednesday afternoon before dropping into the lower to middle 20s by Thursday morning. Thursday morning low are a bit tricky with the high settling directly over the area. However...expect to see some high clouds begin to overspread the region Wednesday night ahead of the next shortwave which should help inhibit radiational cooling.

Shortwave will drop south into the base of the trough Thursday and Thursday night...inducing very weak Gulf cyclogenesis along the cold front. Expect to see scattered showers from Thursday afternoon to around midnight Thursday night as the front moves through. At this time...the low levels appear to be too warm to support any frozen precipitation over the County Warning Area and will forecast all rain.

You guys are killing me; the doc said that if I wanted my fusion to take, no smokie-smokie...been pretty okay with it but talking about it, watching people do it on TV...you know...makes me wanna go out and grab a pack of Kool Milds and go at it

NO, please do not smoke!! I quit for 13 yrs and I was a fool, started smoking again in 2005. At least you can get out, take a deep greath without hacking and enjoy the crip, cool, clean air!!

It'll be my turn to take the car, get out to the dreaded "W" for some shopping. Gotta replace the insulation strip on the living room french doors that the dog ate, to keep that North wind draft outta the house. Just can't wait to get my electric bill, about $180, compliments of cold, Arctic air.

You guys are killing me; the doc said that if I wanted my fusion to take, no smokie-smokie...been pretty okay with it but talking about it, watching people do it on TV...you know...makes me wanna go out and grab a pack of Kool Milds and go at it

Quoting Jeff9641:This is for everyone talking about the cold this week. The biggest concern will be next week with a major severe weather event. Get Ready Florida because all hell will break lose late next week. Link below.

It'll be my turn to take the car, get out to the dreaded "W" for some shopping. Gotta replace the insulation strip on the living room french doors that the dog ate, to keep that North wind draft outta the house. Just can't wait to get my electric bill, about $180, compliments of cold, Arctic air.

WOO, HOO!! We're have a relative heat wave compared to other parts of the Deep South. It was a balmy, 22F at the DFW AP, 24F at my house in Arlington, TX. At noon it's a "mild" 41F here in Arlington, TX, headed for 45F. Enjoying the calm before the "Deep Freeze"!

I betcha DFW drops down near +5 to +12F on Sat morning, near -0- along the Red River Valley up by OK.

BRRRRRR...I don't even want to think about that! The cold will make my bones creak, and I'll have one more reminder of the big milestone I'm about to hit...

Quoting Bordonaro:T Dude, I believe I am the polar bear on the right! The GFS 12Z shows a possible pattern change for the middle of next week, hopefully you'll all receive somw snow and rain in the Upper Midwest and Midwest next week :0)

haha nice! well it looks like im getting 3-5 inches of snow on thursday :D

T Dude, I believe I am the polar bear on the right! The GFS 12Z shows a possible pattern change for the middle of next week, hopefully you'll all receive somw snow and rain in the Upper Midwest and Midwest next week :0)

a strong Arctic air surge has moved over the Gulf waters causing high del-T numbers. This has effectively mixed almost 100% of the 1k feet winds to the surface resulting in advisories being posted. Winds should weaken at 1k feet and at the surface today as high pressure builds into the region. Another Arctic blast comes in for Thursday. Winds behind this cold front are expected to be around 30 knots. We may see some gusts well into gale force Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Frequent gusts to gale force may require a Gale Warning by Thursday evening. Too soon to hoist any warnings or watches at this point. Winds weaken a bit behind the front on Friday due to stability over the marine areas but are back up again Friday night into Sat morning. The week will remain cold and unsettled for the most part.

Its looking slightly less likely for snow/sleet in the New Olreans metro...hopefully chances will come back

Downright balmy in Fort Worth, at least compared to what's in store later this week.

WOO, HOO!! We're have a relative heat wave compared to other parts of the Deep South. It was a balmy, 22F at the DFW AP, 24F at my house in Arlington, TX. At noon it's a "mild" 41F here in Arlington, TX, headed for 45F. Enjoying the calm before the "Deep Freeze"!

I betcha DFW drops down near +5 to +12F on Sat morning, near -0- along the Red River Valley up by OK.

a strong Arctic air surge has moved over the Gulf waters causing high del-T numbers. This has effectively mixed almost 100% of the 1k feet winds to the surface resulting in advisories being posted. Winds should weaken at 1k feet and at the surface today as high pressure builds into the region. Another Arctic blast comes in for Thursday. Winds behind this cold front are expected to be around 30 knots. We may see some gusts well into gale force Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Frequent gusts to gale force may require a Gale Warning by Thursday evening. Too soon to hoist any warnings or watches at this point. Winds weaken a bit behind the front on Friday due to stability over the marine areas but are back up again Friday night into Sat morning. The week will remain cold and unsettled for the most part.